birthday beanie

So... I decided to tackle a hat.

This is for my bro's birthday... I'm only a week late! Grant was nice enough to model for me...his eyeball makes me smile.


first off... if you teach yourself how to knit and then take several months off be sure you are doing the knit stitch correctly. yup... figured out that i've been knitting wrong since i started back up this summer. everything turns out fine, the stitches are just bigger and bumpier. which is why the shrugs are so textured. who knew?!

second...maybe you should practice before you try double pointed needles (dpns) on a project you actually want to look good. especially when your friend tells you they suck...

this is the top...where the pattern gets its name. turn a square...there is a square. get it? genious, i know! anyway. see the 'seams'? they are where i had to transition between the dpns. they are loose and its annoying, BUT i'm over it.

all in all its a pretty cute hat. right? hope he likes it!

here it is in progress...never got around to posting it!

details:

pattern - turn a square free on ravelry!
yarn - cascade 220 wool in colorway 9465 and noro yuzen in colorway 1
...also detailed on my ravelry page

confection

i've been dying to show these to you! i am so proud of myself. i know you aren't supposed to say things like that, but i just like how these turned out and they are my biggest knitting project yet. have i ever told you how much more i like knitting than sewing?? SO MUCH! mostly because i'm a more precise knitter than i am as a sewer. its a much more relaxing process for me. but really that is neither here nor there so we should just look at the pretty pictures...




i made these for my cousin's two girls. she has a 20 month old and newborn. they are the most beautiful little girls...every time my mom sees pictures or videos (they are her sister's granddaughters) she has nana fever! she wants someone of her own to spoil!



this is the 24 month size. it looks HUGE to me, but i haven't seen a 2 year old in a while so we're hoping it fits. i checked my gauge several times, but it was dead on. i've found that i ALWAYS have to use two needle sizes up from what the pattern calls for...i knit tight, but i'm getting better/looser.



this is the 3 month size. these were the first projects i ever had to actually knit in the round for...its pretty much exactly the same as regular knitting!






i added this knit rose to dress arie's up a bit. i saw it on another raveler's shrug and fell in love. i had a hard time getting it small enough, but i think it worked out ok.

details:

patterns - confection baby shrug & simple knit rose *FREE ravelry downloads!!*

yarn - lion brand cotton-ease (love this stuff!) in taupe & azalea
...also detailed on my ravelry pages here, here and here

burp cloths

sorry for these pictures. they suck, i know.
one of my friends from high school saw the burp cloths i made for jess & jon on facebook. she was in love with the fabric. i told her where i got it (joann's) and that i didn't think i had any left.

it was no longer at joanns and when rummaging through my stash i found just barely enough to make two cloths! i used the homemade by jill tutorial and sent 'em off!

can i tell you i love making these? they are so quick and easy - its very satisfying. i would really like to sit down and make a ton and just have them on hand.

retrograde

my husband and i are science nerds. most of our friends are science nerds too. one of our friend's gets REALLY excited about something called retrograde blood flow.

he is absolutely hilarious and so excited about it - i had to make him an I heart Retrograde embroidery for his office. see... i told you we are nerds.

travel knitting

i'm back! there was lots of knitting while i was away and even some knitting instructing (see below). i hope to have finished projects blocked and ready to share by the end of the week...whether they are posted by then will depend on if my camera has been repaired.

i do have a few projects to show you that i finished before i left - i'll post them soon!

do you love this giant granny square blanket?? my mom found it thrifting for a few dollars - i'm so jealous!

ready

got all my supplies ready to go for my craftiness while in Oregon! see you in a few weeks!